I chose this cruise because I had great interest in Normandy. Our ship departed from Paris & we had planned on spending 2 days before boarding to explore the city. I am very glad that we did! Paris is a delightful way to start our ... Read More

I chose this cruise because I had great interest in Normandy. Our ship departed from Paris & we had planned on spending 2 days before boarding to explore the city. I am very glad that we did! Paris is a delightful way to start our trip. Embarkation was easy & our stateroom was perfect & our friendly attendant was helpful and kept our cabin neat.
Our meals were thought out & the accompanying wine was perfect and plentiful.
This was not our first river cruise with Avalon and all that we had come to expect was even better! The Tapestry11 is a well laid out ship, with convenience & comfort in mind.
Evenings were spent listening to a wonderful keyboard player and dancing the night away.
The crew was wonderful and thoughtful and friendly. Our captain was hands on and open to all our questions. He mixed with guests frequently making everyone feel special.
The shore excursions were interesting and our guide was knowledgeable.
I would definitely take this cruise again! Read Less

I would definitely recommend Avalon Cruise Seine River Cruise! I have always wanted to see the Beaches at Normandy & the American Cemetery, being there on the 4th of July made it even more special. That morning our dining area was ... Read More

I would definitely recommend Avalon Cruise Seine River Cruise! I have always wanted to see the Beaches at Normandy & the American Cemetery, being there on the 4th of July made it even more special. That morning our dining area was decorated for the 4th of July - very thoughtful - the chef even made us a flag cake for dessert that night!
Because of my budget, I chose the least expensive cabin & it was perfect - plenty of room - I didn't care about the view because I could go on deck for the view. The ship was immaculate, the food was delicious and the crew spoiled us. Gail was our cruise director - she was excellent! The evening entertainment was great - different every night, covering all interests. I really appreciated all of the crew members who helped to spoil us & kept us laughing! The group who served us both in the dining room & the bar are very hard workers & I want to acknowledge all of them.
The transfers went very smoothly. I liked all of the excursions & the tour guides were very knowledgeable & proud of the cities we toured.
I just can't say enough about this trip! I would do it again. I would recommend 2 days in Paris either before or after the cruise. I would NOT recommend staying at eh Pullman Hotel! It was very clean but the staff their was rude & less than helpful. Read Less

I picked an early (cheaper) date, but late enough to hopefully have good weather. Hit a home run. The extra day pre-cruise hotel was in a great location. All transfers went smoothly. The staff on the cruise was very friendly and competent. ... Read More

I picked an early (cheaper) date, but late enough to hopefully have good weather. Hit a home run. The extra day pre-cruise hotel was in a great location. All transfers went smoothly. The staff on the cruise was very friendly and competent. The food and whole dining experience was outstanding. Excellent selection and quality. The excursions were varied and had well-informed guides. We were docked on the Seine a distance away from the landing beaches, so that day had some time taken up by bus rides to and from the coast and to and from the lunch area. The cabin was nice, but I was not in it that much. Easy train ride to London. Another centrally-located hotel. Again, good sight-seeing smoothly and professionally arranged. All in all, this was twelve days with all kinds of history seen in a comfortable and pleasant way. I would recommend this company without reservation. Read Less

Being first timers overseas we missed a few bases. Paris arrival should have been a few days before our departure on the Tapestry II, but that's our fault.. Leaving the states late in the day, our flights and arrival were uneventful ... Read More

Being first timers overseas we missed a few bases. Paris arrival should have been a few days before our departure on the Tapestry II, but that's our fault.. Leaving the states late in the day, our flights and arrival were uneventful and Avalon rep was waiting with a huge smile upon landing in Paris. (Note: for those with walking difficulty, extremely important for you to make arrangements for transportation to main terminal from your gate - very long walk.) When transported from hotel to Tapestry II, our guide was no where to be found until approximately 10 minutes before the bus pulled up. We did not see her at the Avalon table in the hotel at all. Also noted, a tour group with 30 people were loaded prior to the others and there was no exceptions made for a gentleman who was disabled . He was not offered early loading.
Cabin was perfect size, plenty of room under the bed for suitcases. Wardrobe huge with plenty of shelves, hangers, extra blankets . Bed was great size, a little firm, but we simply followed the instructions on the pre-printed "note" left on bed to have steward adjust by next night's retirement. Great Pillows! Loved the NO balcony layout, easy opening on the doors to outside, even though a little cold while sailing we enjoyed this new effect, enabling us to sit at our table or sofa to see the sights. Bathroom, shower, vanity all in great taste and roomy! Lighted makeup mirror a plus ! Plenty of storage space there and throughout the entire cabin!
Optional linen and towel change always appreciated !. Only had a problem with 'not having washcloths'. Maid seemed to forget them twice ... Nightly turn down service is definitely a favorite of mine !
Dining and food choices were superb. Loved Local recipes suggested. Selection of wines were very good, but Volume / Size of drinks purchased from menu during cocktail and happy hour should be adjusted. Service was good to excellent, easy to stick with same waiter, same table if you dine at same hour each nite. Breakfast was always a treat - such a variety of local foods and fruits. The convenience of the Aft Lounge was appreciated for quiet time, reading, games, with self service for juices, latte's and cappuccino.
Due to weather, we did not experience time on the Sky Deck.
Our Cruise Director was just wonderful.. Very knowledgeable, accommodating ! Great sense of humor ! We had engine problems in 1st day of sailing and he worked overtime to adjust everyone's itinerary if needed. He helped us change an excursion with 'another' travel team in London prior to our disembarking in Paris.
The only disappointment we had was regarding our excursions. The length of walking is NOT emphasized enough in the brochure. The walk from the parking lot to the cemetery and Omaha Beach were almost to much for a few. No scooters or carts were available or offered to anyone who may have wanted them. No Museum stops were scheduled. The bathrooms on the buses are terribly small and inconvenient. We had to buy something at the restaurant we stopped at to use the restroom. Maybe more time should be allotted on some of the excursions to allow tourists to shop or explore more with the guide. We did take a 'slower paced' tour into one small town but then had to climb 2 flights of stairs to get to the main road..
All in All, after having cruised 8 times on major ships, we have found we prefer the smaller more intimate setting for some future traveling. All of the Staff on Tapestry II were very sweet, knowledgeable and accommodating. We will definitely be sailing with Avalon again! Read Less

Friends highly recommended Avalon Waterways.
We arrived in Paris and were brought directly to our ship. After checking in we were able to walk to the Eiffel Tower for a few photos.
The ship was very nice. Our cabin was spacious ... Read More

Friends highly recommended Avalon Waterways.
We arrived in Paris and were brought directly to our ship. After checking in we were able to walk to the Eiffel Tower for a few photos.
The ship was very nice. Our cabin was spacious and clean. I thought the food was good. We ate the majority of our lunches and dinners on the panoramic deck. Fellow travelers were pleasant and welcoming. Entertainment was enjoyable. I enjoyed almost all of the land excursions. I would have liked less bus travel. The guides were informative and accommodating.
The London leg of the trip was disappointing. The city tour was rushed. Our hotel room was small, dark and the bathroom smelled like cigarettes. The only window in the room overlooked the dining room. The room lighting was very poor. Opening the drapes exposed us to the diners below and the rooms across the "courtyard." The only chair in the room was falling apart. Our fellow travelers had suites. Why the accommodations were not equitable for all of us is a mystery to me. Avalon needs to think twice about using Monogram as part of their cruise packages. VERY DISAPPOINTED! Read Less

We loved this cruise and it’s excursions but the pace was so grueling. If we’ve never been to an area we want to do the excursions but it was exhausting. It would be nice to have a couple of days built in where we don’t feel like we ... Read More

We loved this cruise and it’s excursions but the pace was so grueling. If we’ve never been to an area we want to do the excursions but it was exhausting. It would be nice to have a couple of days built in where we don’t feel like we have to go go go. Just cruise and relax. With that in mind you’d need to add something to do that makes staying on board worth while.
The food was excellent, Our excursions were great and the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable.
The entertainment was just so so on board and there was nothing to do on board if you were not on an excursion. Absolutely nothing. Our room staff, Waite staff and all other staff were excellent. The gym left a lot to be desired and there was no spa on board. So yes I recommend but not without words to let folks know that you will be expected to go at a grueling pace and there is not much extra on board. Read Less

We chose this Avalon Waterways cruise for three main reasons. Avalon Tapestry II's elegant accommodations, the professionalism of Avalon Waterways team members, and a desire to see some of northern France. We were on a previous ... Read More

We chose this Avalon Waterways cruise for three main reasons. Avalon Tapestry II's elegant accommodations, the professionalism of Avalon Waterways team members, and a desire to see some of northern France. We were on a previous Avalon Waterways cruise several years ago and were very impressed with the cleanliness of the ships, the crew (friendly, helpful, always aiming to please so that you have a great vacation experience), and of course, the food ... WOW ... delicious every time! So, with this latest Avalon Waterways cruise that we took on the Seine in France, we were happy to experience another consistently excellent cruise!
We were very pleased precautions were taken to ensure the health of the passengers. It is so easy (as you may have read in the news) for health issues to arise whilst on board a ship, due to the close proximity of everyone. Thankfully we have no such worries while cruising with Avalon Waterways. Well done, Avalon Waterways! Read Less

This was our first river cruise, but we have been on 5 ocean cruises, and this was far more intimate and relaxing. We explored Paris for only one day before the cruise.
Embarkation and disembarkation could NOT have gone smoother, with ... Read More

This was our first river cruise, but we have been on 5 ocean cruises, and this was far more intimate and relaxing. We explored Paris for only one day before the cruise.
Embarkation and disembarkation could NOT have gone smoother, with the Avalon staff meeting us immediately upon arrival, and seeing us off after the cruise.
The ship, Tapestry II is a cozy and comfortable modern home away from home. The cabin and amenities were top notch.
Dining was a pleasant experience at EVERY meal with fine food, and a wonderfully attentive staff. Our galley tour was eye opening, and a marvel to behold.
Shore excursions were as advertised, with an emphasis on explanations of the sites, a fine selection of sites, knowledgeable, and friendly local tour guides.
Our transfer to the airport was professionally handled, with our cruise director making sure that we saw that our luggage was totally on the van.
We met many of the other people on board, and they were extremely pleasant.
Casual dress was a definite plus, and not a gown or sport jacket were necessary.
We would definitely cruise Avalon again. Read Less

Travel Agent recommended it.
Staff was so friendly, especially the cruise director and captain, dining and cleaning staff, and they really made our trip special. Beds were very comfortable and bathroom nice and large.Our servers were ... Read More

Travel Agent recommended it.
Staff was so friendly, especially the cruise director and captain, dining and cleaning staff, and they really made our trip special. Beds were very comfortable and bathroom nice and large.Our servers were outstanding and kind and the bar staff fun.The food was outstanding and offered such a variety at every meal. Especially like offering the filet mignon every nt. and the Eggs Benedict was the best I ever had. Liked the exposure to different French dishes.Also liked that you could have a lighter menu in the upper lounge. Loved the chef making crepes right in front of us. Appreciated the lounge with tea and coffee at the back of the ship. Enjoyed the excursions to Giverny and Normandy the most, and also Rouen and Honfleur. Guides were outstanding and very knowageble. Not crazy about metro tour or city walk except for the tour of Notre Dame. Read Less

My wife andI have made many ocean and river cruises. Our latest trip on the Avalon Tapestry II has been the best ever. The route is Paris to Normandy with many charming and informative stops. The guides provided by Avalon were without ... Read More

My wife andI have made many ocean and river cruises. Our latest trip on the Avalon Tapestry II has been the best ever. The route is Paris to Normandy with many charming and informative stops. The guides provided by Avalon were without exception top flight. The only negative was the 5 hour round trip on a bus to get to Omaha Beach. Listening devices were provided fo all guided tours and they worked marvelously l.
The personnel on this ship are extraordinarily thoughtful. The food is as good as Oceania and special effort is made to cater to special diets. All the public spaces are well maintained and put the passenger at ease.
Our room was well designed with plenty of closet and shelf space. The bathroom was smallish but well designed, with a great deal of space to lay out personal items. Because we booked late we had a room with just a high, not full, window. But there were plenty of comfortable chairs on the upper deck, and the windows in the interior public areas provided a full view of the passing shore line.
The cruise director provided a lot of good information without the false heartiness so many of that breed are prone to.
The dress code was very relaxed without a sports jacket in sight. Read Less

This is our first river cruise. We opted for Avalon to book our flights which included transfers and sure glad we did. We were met at the airport by our escort who loaded our luggage into his car a immediately drove us to the ship, which ... Read More

This is our first river cruise. We opted for Avalon to book our flights which included transfers and sure glad we did. We were met at the airport by our escort who loaded our luggage into his car a immediately drove us to the ship, which was berthed mid-Paris within view of the Eiffel Tower. The ship left that evening and headed north. We had several stops for tours before taking a bus tour Normandy's Omaha Beach, the American cemetery, and Point du Hoc. The tour guides were very dedicated and informative. Our cruise director Jean Loup took very good care of us and was always there to patiently answer any questions from us passengers. The food was outstanding and the wine was excellent and plentiful. The bar had several happy hour nights with drinks at half price but the full price drinks were very reasonably priced. There is always complimentary coffee, tea, and cappuccino. Our cabin was outstanding with plenty of room in the bath and our studio. We spend some of our time on the river taking in the amazing scenery. We had the huge sliding door open sitting on the couch and chair with our feet on the rail sipping a glass of wine. Everything on the trip was very well organized. When we got home we booked another cruise, this time 11 days starting in Paris and heading south. Read Less

My wife's #1 bucket list item was Paris.
We chose this cruise because of the varied destinations.
From the moment we landed in Paris until the day we left the ship we were treated to the finest experience we'd ever ... Read More

My wife's #1 bucket list item was Paris.
We chose this cruise because of the varied destinations.
From the moment we landed in Paris until the day we left the ship we were treated to the finest experience we'd ever received.
The crew and staff were first rate. The Captain and Cruise Director spent every waking moment assuring we had everything we needed.
The service provide was beyond compare.
All meals were included. The Chef and his staff provided us some of the finest meals you would ever have. The variety of choices was excellent. Some meals were served as buffets, but you would never consider them to be buffet food. They were delicious, and the choices were many.
Nightly entertainment was provided and it was wonderful.
The daily tours were wonderful. The guides and drivers were wonderful people.
Will do it again, but only with Avalon.
Thanks for a wonderful memorable trip down the River Seine. Read Less

Avalon was recommended to me by a friend. I reviewed the destination choices, lengths of trips and cruises available and decided on the Paris to Normandy cruise. The trip exceeded all of my expectations from the planning and ... Read More

Avalon was recommended to me by a friend. I reviewed the destination choices, lengths of trips and cruises available and decided on the Paris to Normandy cruise. The trip exceeded all of my expectations from the planning and communication to the arrival, ground transfers, itineary, quality and variety of food and wines. My room was a good size and very comfortable. The size of the ship was just what I was looking for, approximately 120 passengers. The excursions were fun, informative and gave me a great flavor of France. I met many wonderful people, many of whom I will stay in touch with. The staff were great. All very friendly and went above and beyond to make sure that I had everything that I needed. The trip was perfect. I would love to take another cruise and will highly recommend Avalon to my friends. Thank you for a wonderful experience that I will always remember! Read Less

I chose this trip based on a recommendation from Ginger at Vacations to Go. I traveled by myself. I was nervous about fitting in with the other passengers, but the wonderful staff made sure I was dining with people every night.
The ... Read More

I chose this trip based on a recommendation from Ginger at Vacations to Go. I traveled by myself. I was nervous about fitting in with the other passengers, but the wonderful staff made sure I was dining with people every night.
The transfer from the Paris airport to the ship was well organized and professional. I was spending several more days in Paris, so the staff arranged a taxi from the dock to the hotel.
The food was incredible. The excursions and on board talks were fascinating, interesting and really enjoyable! The wine was good and plentiful!
My cabin was great. Everything was clean and organized.
I will travel again with Avalon, as river cruising is the best way to see the world, especially when you are traveling to learn about the culture, history, etc ( especially when solo).
One unpacking and packing but visiting 7 places, is the way to travel!!!!! Read Less

My travel agent recommended Avalon over the other companies. My wife and I were celebrating our 20th anniversary. The entire cruise experience was great. The food, accommodations, crew, tours, entertainment and services was outstanding. ... Read More

My travel agent recommended Avalon over the other companies. My wife and I were celebrating our 20th anniversary. The entire cruise experience was great. The food, accommodations, crew, tours, entertainment and services was outstanding. The Seine River cruise was exciting, some of the views were great. Side Excursions with guides was very informative about the history of the site and the overall historical events during the time period.
The ship built in 2015 was clean and nice. The room was adequate and furnished nicely. Food choices were unbelievable and tasted great, wine with lunch and dinner topped it off. Services were great, staff aimed to please. Had fun talking to them. Loved the entertainment, music tailored to our age group, none of that modern noise. Shore Excursions to various towns again was coordinated with comfortable busses. The only regret is the time spent on the top deck to watch the scenery go by. Read Less

Avalon Waterways was highly recommended by our travel agent and she was not wrong! We chose this itinerary as we wanted to visit the D-Day beaches but there was so much more to enjoy. We were met by an Avalon rep at the airport in Paris, ... Read More

Avalon Waterways was highly recommended by our travel agent and she was not wrong! We chose this itinerary as we wanted to visit the D-Day beaches but there was so much more to enjoy. We were met by an Avalon rep at the airport in Paris, who transported us to the ship. The ship was docked about a block away from the Eiffel Tower - lovely surprise. We were able to board immediately, check-in, and leave our bags securely. We wandered the walkway along the Seine, returned to the ship for a great lunch, and then spent the afternoon visiting the Tower. Rooms were ready by 4, happy hour began at 5, dinner was at 7. Our stateroom was larger than expected, as was the bathroom as well (with L'Occitane amenities!). Loved the option of sitting anywhere in the dining room - we met so many lovely people. Every meal was excellent, as were the accompanying wines and service. Some days, lighter options were available in the lounge. Every crew member was friendly and accommodating, we lacked for nothing. Evening entertainment was enjoyable, and we very much appreciated the afternoons we were cruising and could watch the river go by. Sooo relaxing in between the days of touring. Every tour was excellent, led by very informative local guides. The only thing we wished for was more time at Pointe du Hoc - so much more to see than than an hour allowed. For our last two nights, we were docked again in view of the Eiffel Tower, which we could watch "glitter: at night from the decks.. Beautiful finish to a memorable trip Read Less

I had moderate expectations for this cruise, and I must say, they were all blown out of the water!
We were allowed to board any time on our embarkation day. A fabulous lunch was ready for us while we waited for access to our cabins ... Read More

I had moderate expectations for this cruise, and I must say, they were all blown out of the water!
We were allowed to board any time on our embarkation day. A fabulous lunch was ready for us while we waited for access to our cabins around 3:30. We stayed in a Panorama Suite and considering we are two females who like to have room to comfortably get ready, we were in good shape! As long as you're organized, the room is very accommodating and - THAT VIEW! We loved having a panoramic view of the gorgeous scenery. The ship is new (2015) and in excellent shape.
STAFF - all were amazing! Captain Rudy was VERY present throughout our entire cruise, and even danced with some of us after dinner in the lounge! Cruise Director Jean-Loup was HILARIOUS and extremely knowledgable, we could go to him about anything! The servers, bartenders, housekeepers, desk staff etc were all also incredible. We felt so well taken care of.
FOOD - very accommodating! I don't do much dairy or any meat/fish, and the Maitre D'/Head Chef were always sure to check in and offer me something custom-made. They even made me a vegan birthday cake for my birthday! They really do keep the wine flowing during dinner, too!
EXCURSIONS - I recommend going on an excursion in every city! We LOVED Honfleur, Auvers Sur Oise, Versaille, Landing Beaches at Normandy (very emotional), Rouen... they were all FANTASTIC.
GYM - small but nice to be able to get a little cardio or weight training in when we felt like we needed to work a little of the gluttony off! Read Less

I had been wanting to do this cruise for about 10 years! Avalon hit all the spots I wanted to do, and then some! The boat was so nice, the room - very roomy! The excursions were all well guided with whisper headsets so you don't ... Read More

I had been wanting to do this cruise for about 10 years! Avalon hit all the spots I wanted to do, and then some! The boat was so nice, the room - very roomy! The excursions were all well guided with whisper headsets so you don't miss a thing the guide says, even if you want to linger for a photo as they move on. The crew aboard were all visible - you felt like you knew them all. Professional and courteous! We also go to know SO many of the passengers, it was a small friendly group of passengers!
Usually I am ready to get off the cruise when it is done; but this time, I could have stayed on and done it all over again!
It is a pricey trip, but it includes excursions & all delicious meals daily! Well worth it for a special occasion!
Top Notch!!! Read Less

Chose cruise because it looked interesting when were were searching on line. We started our vacation search looking on the Globus Tours web site with no idea what kind of vacation were going to take or where we were eventually going. We ... Read More

Chose cruise because it looked interesting when were were searching on line. We started our vacation search looking on the Globus Tours web site with no idea what kind of vacation were going to take or where we were eventually going. We found Avalon Waterways on the Globus site. Avalon is a partner of Globus Tours, and we took a Globus Tour last year and were very impressed with how it was run. This cruise more than met our expectations.
Our room was nice (a little small, but nice). Food (all meals were included) was spectacular. The staff treated us tremendously. The tours and included excursions all were as described in the brochure. All the days' events were extremely well organized, and were accompanied with an itinerary sheet delivered to our rooms the day before. Avalon handled our ground transportation to and from the airport in a fully professional manner. Read Less

Avalon and our cruise Paris to Normandy surpassed all our expectations. Where to start...The food. I gained 10 pounds! The food was wonderfully presented, tasted great and was plentiful as was the wine. The ship's amenities were ... Read More

Avalon and our cruise Paris to Normandy surpassed all our expectations. Where to start...The food. I gained 10 pounds! The food was wonderfully presented, tasted great and was plentiful as was the wine. The ship's amenities were comfortable and convenient. Excursion options made it a difficult decision each morning on where to go. While on an excursion, the guides were very well prepared, buses were clean and comfortable and we always felt safe. And our cruise director threw in a couple of extras like recommending the light show in Rouen or bringing an author on-board who has researched the Normandy invasion to provide his insights prior to our visit.
The crew of the Tapestry II were friendly, always upbeat and presented themselves as wanting to ensure we were having a good time and had all of our needs met.
Avalon also reserved a hotel for a pre-cruise stay in Paris. It was conveniently located at the foot of the Eiffel tower. Plus Avalon handled all or our transfers, to the hotel, to the ship and back to the airport. On time taking away all stress related to visiting and navigating a foreign country for the first time.
A river cruise is definitely the only type of cruise I'll consider in the future. And I have no reservations on highly recommending taking one with Avalon. Read Less

We chose this cruise based on the recommendation of a friend. The Avalon Tapestry II was the perfect size. Super clean with very comfortable public spaces both inside and outside the ship. Our cabin was clean and spacious with great ... Read More

We chose this cruise based on the recommendation of a friend. The Avalon Tapestry II was the perfect size. Super clean with very comfortable public spaces both inside and outside the ship. Our cabin was clean and spacious with great storage. Bed was super comfortable and we especially enjoyed the bed facing the windows. The bathroom had a spacious shower, double sinks and good storage. Meals were delicious and plentiful. Breakfast and lunch buffet was extensive with many choices including an omelette station for breakfast and a carving station at lunch. Also, fresh fruit and many healthy choices. We appreciated the seating options in the dining room...a table for two, four or six. Our waiter Marius was very attentive. Every member of the staff was very professional, helpful and incredibly hard working. The Ports and Shore excursions were well organized with very knowledgeable tour guides. Wish we had more time in Rouen. Our favorite tour guides were Estelle and Olivier. We would definitely recommend Avalon . Read Less

This was our first cruise. We wanted to see the Normandy Beaches, which did not disappoint. We had a WWII historian traveling with us and his presentations were very interesting and insightful! All of the villages and towns had beautiful ... Read More

This was our first cruise. We wanted to see the Normandy Beaches, which did not disappoint. We had a WWII historian traveling with us and his presentations were very interesting and insightful! All of the villages and towns had beautiful cathedrals and incredible architecture, so many sights to photograph and experience. The food on the boat was delicious and plentiful! We enjoyed some of the best chocolate chip cookies daily in the aft lounge. The Captain, Cruise Director and the Crew on the TapastryII were so informative and personable. Our room was beautiful and it was such a treat to open the sliding glass door which converted our room to a French balcony to be able to enjoy the river as we cruised! Being able to see and experience all the sites that we had only read about in history books or seen on TV was amazing! I would highly recommend this trip! We are already planning our next cruise!!! Read Less

This location was a place my late husband had always wanted to visit as a WW II history buff. My daughter and I took the cruise in his honor to visit and hear about the times and places he had such avid interest in. We selected this ... Read More

This location was a place my late husband had always wanted to visit as a WW II history buff. My daughter and I took the cruise in his honor to visit and hear about the times and places he had such avid interest in. We selected this cruise because of its focus and that there would be a historian to accompany along the trip. Nigel Stewart was wonderful on his delivery of what was happening during the time leading up to the Normandy invasion. His insight on the military figures, leaders and family stories was so engaging.
The Captain, Cruise Director and the entire crew and staff were absolutely wonderful and made our cruise such a wonderful, delightful, and special vacation for us. Everyone was so attentive and cared for our every request. The Cruise Director, Tony Williamson, had the perfect communication plan to gather us to advise us on the next day's activities and what we needed to know. He and Captain Rudy were always at at the gang plank to send us off and greet us when we returned to wish us a great trip.
Staff in the lounge or dining room were attentive and quickly addressed any requests for extra bread, drinks and freely poured wine during the entire meal. Excellent service by all.
The ship was beautiful and our state room was great. Small, but that is what cruise cabins are, and the condition and fixtures were more than accommodating to our needs. The staff always cared for us and made our trip so enjoyable. Meals were amazing and the group dinner meals or the quick self serve lunch in the lounge were equally delicious and delightful. Cruising during meal times added so much to seeing sights along the river while gently cruising along. The only criticism we had was that if you sat in the middle part of the main diining room there were lengthy delays in being served. On one such meal iwe were not served our main entree, when our table neighbors had already finished their dessert.
Excursions offered were very enjoyable and depending on the guide, we were provided with great history, background with time to venture around the villages. The only disappointments were a stop in Caudebec and one of the Paris excursions when we returned to port. We arrived at Caudebec, and the excursion offered was not of interest to us, but then it turns out that the village shops were not open on Mondays. So while we could walk around to visit see the village, we could not shop for any local specialties. The Paris bike tour was not as was presented and should have indicated not for a novice rider, Perhaps the group of 11 was too large, but we traveled through heavily trafficked Paris streets and tourists venues. So my own ride was stressful in that I was worried about staying connected to the group and out of the car and pedestrian pathways that I did not enjoy it at all.
Embarking and disembarking were flawless, clearly defined processes, bags were picked up immediately as we put them outside our state room, and were outside our transfer without having to identify them first. The ship crew were wonderful and so professional.
The Tapestry II cruise was our first ever cruise of any kind and I must say I feel spoiled that I would not want to cruise any other way!!! I loved being able to sit out on the front, top deck or rear lounge areas while we cruised. It was so peaceful, presented great opportunity for pictures along the way, or just to get alone time if you wanted it. Other travelers were so friendly and it was great to meet others and talk about their travel experiences and why they chose the cruise as well.
We also booked additional time before and after the cruise that Globus assisted us with for hotel and transfers. All was done with no effort on our part and went very smoothly.
The few negatives mentioned, did not spoil our trip and we had a wonderful time. Avalon will be a first choice for a new adventure! Read Less

We chose this cruise because it was a themed World War 2 history cruise. If we hadn't taken a private tour before getting onboard, I would have left disappointed. The guest lecturer, Nigel Stewart, was able to give us a broad overview ... Read More

We chose this cruise because it was a themed World War 2 history cruise. If we hadn't taken a private tour before getting onboard, I would have left disappointed. The guest lecturer, Nigel Stewart, was able to give us a broad overview of the history of the war that happened in the areas we were traveling. He stayed on ship all week and you could ask him questions pretty much at any time. The disappointment of the WW2 history was in the tours that were offered. There is a 2 1/2 hour travel time involved each way, so I understand that their is only so much time. But, we felt rushed during the tour because we had to get back on the bus and go again. So much to see and learn and we left feeling that we needed to go back and see things again because of what we missed.
The ship was very nice and clean. A very modern ship. Other than watching the world float by or sitting in the sun, not much else to do on board. The WIFI is spotty at best unless you sit in the lounge area.
The food was disappointing, but was okay. If possible, we ate in the lounge every night as they served the same food as in the main dinner area. It was in sample size portions so that was nice to try the different selections.
The crew was very nice all around. They made the trip as they were always trying to exceed your expectations. The captain was nice and was always around.
Our room was very nice, clean, and felt bigger than it was. We were lucky to not be docked next to other boats all the time, so we had a decent view in the different docking locations.
Overall, I would sail with Avalon again, but do things more on my own for tours. Read Less

This was my first cruise and it was with my adult relatives. We started from Paris and went to Le Havre with a side trip to Normandy. Each day was 1 or 2 shore excursions that were generally enjoyable as they were to historic areas or ... Read More

This was my first cruise and it was with my adult relatives. We started from Paris and went to Le Havre with a side trip to Normandy. Each day was 1 or 2 shore excursions that were generally enjoyable as they were to historic areas or buildings. Tours of Versaille and Le Louvre were almost surreal due to the crowds so be prepared. I also had a couple of days before the cruise to see some of Paris which helped the trip feel complete.
The rooms were compact but very comfortable, although we weren't in them much due to all the activities. Food was plentiful and leaned towards the high end, definitely not steaks and pasta. Although it seemed we were eating all the time the portions where small (but sufficient) so it was easy to not feel stuffed. Wine is all you can drink. There were also 24/7 snacks available. I would have preferred a little earlier dinner time but since there weren't planned events afterwards it worked out. A great memory was setting on the deck after dinner and watching the scenery go by as the sun set - really amazing.
The crew was great, very friendly and helpful. Entertainment on board was mostly just happy hour, with a couple of events like cooking and a classical band - which I enjoyed greatly even though I am a rock fan.
One criticism of the tour was that the bus travel cut into the time at the destination. Of course that is inevitable because the river doesn't just flow right up to everything. Normandy felt especially rushed because we went to Point du Hoc in the morning and then the Normandy cemetery in the afternoon with a quick lunch at a golf course in between. I think I would not want to skip either but we needed more time. In my case I probably could have ignored the tour guide because I was already familiar with the historic events so maybe less talking and more wandering would have helped. A box lunch could have saved time, too, although the restaurant did a great job at serving us quickly. I would have liked to gone to one of the private museums along the way.
To me this was a trip of a lifetime (so far) and it was exactly what I wanted. The small boat made everything feel much more cozy and not just a floating hotel. Highly recommended. Read Less